A proposed corridor for the Florida National Scenic Trail adjacent to Suwannee River State Park.

An abandoned rail corridor between High Springs and Newberry.

A trailhead in Keystone Heights for the Palatka to Lake Butler State Trail.

An extension of the Shingle Creek Trail in Kissimmee.

An abandoned rail corridor in Miami known as the Ludlam Trail.

Acquisition agreements must be approved by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement
Trust Fund at either a regularly scheduled
Cabinet meeting or meeting of the Acquisition and Restoration Council, depending on the acquisition price.

Fifth Edition of CT Guide Available

The fifth edition guidebook for the
1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail, commonly
referred to as the CT, is now available for retail purchase. The 330-page guide,
created by OGT, alleviates the need to
download and print 26 different segment guides and other information from the
OGT website. It includes the trail guide text and data book along with trip
planning and safety information and recommended gear for a CT journey. New in
this edition is information about alternate routes in the Panhandle and Keys. Color
maps must still be downloaded and printed from the OGT website.

“The CT helps to boost local economies as
well as provide outstanding recreational opportunities for residents and
visitors,” said Florida State Parks Director Donald Forgione. “It is the
saltwater version of the Florida National Scenic Trail.

All proceeds from the sale of the guide go
directly to the non-profit Florida Paddling Trails Association or FPTA. The
Association serves as a volunteer steward of the trail as well as other
paddling trails statewide. “For nearly a
decade, FPTA has eagerly supported paddlers who tackle the CT through a statewide
network of ‘trail angels,’” said Jill Lingard, president of the FPTA. “They
might offer a warm meal, a place to stay for the night, or even just some
company on the water. We’re excited to see this new and updated edition of
the trail guide. Like our FPTA volunteers, it is an important resource for
those doing all or part of the trail.”

Retail copies of the $16.95 guidebook can
only be purchased on Amazon.

Third CT Reunion Set

Salty tales will be aplenty as paddlers
gather at O’Leno State Park near High Springs on April 16 to share their
experiences on one of the longest designated water trails in the world. Covering
more than 1,500 miles, the Florida
Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail
extends around the entire coastline of the Sunshine State, exposing paddlers to
a wide variety of habitats and wildlife, including the remote Big Bend Coast, the Everglades and the scenic Florida Keys. Manatees, sharks, stingrays and a
host of colorful birds are all encountered.

“This is a great event for not only paddlers
who have completed the entire trail, but for those who are considering the
journey and want to learn from the experts,” says Liz Spark, OGT paddling trails
coordinator. “We will also recognize
managers of different trail sections, volunteers with the Florida Paddling
Trails Association who help to maintain the trail, and people we call trail
angels who assist paddlers on their journeys.”

The salty tales and photo shows begin April 16 at 5
p.m. at the park’s historic Recreation Hall. The park is located at 410 SE O’Leno
Park Road, High Springs, FL 32643. Exit I-75 at Exit 414. The park is located
on US 441, 8 miles south of the interstate. The event is free to the public
with park admission of $5 per vehicle, up to eight people. For more
information, contact Liz Sparks, 850-245-2079; liz.sparks@dep.state.fl.us.

FDOT Seeking Input for Bike/Ped Survey

If you are a non-motorized transportation professional in Florida, your input is
needed. To better understand the extent and severity of pedestrian and bicycle
crashes, facility usage, and return on investments, the Florida Department of
Transportation is seeking usage information of the state’s roadway and trail
system by bicyclists and pedestrians. To do this, FDOT is developing a
statewide non-motorized count program and database similar to what is done for
motor vehicles. In order to create the most useful and cost efficient program for
the state, FDOT would like to partner with existing programs around the state.
This is where we need your help. Please take this survey to help us better
understand what data is currently being collected and what type of data you
would like to see collected. Please click the link below

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VFRXQK6

Please
complete the survey by April 30, though earlier would be appreciated.

Recreational Trails Grant Program Begins Cycle

The
Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be accepting grant
applications during April 11-29 for the Recreational Trails Program, which
provides competitive matching grant funds to renovate, develop or maintain
recreational motorized, nonmotorized and mixed-use trails and trailside
facilities.

The
program provides financial assistance to municipal, county, state or federal
government agencies as well as recognized state and federal Indian tribal
governments and organizations registered as active Florida nonprofit
corporations that have an agreement with a government agency to develop public
lands and recreational trails.

"The
department is pleased to partner with local communities in developing trail
projects that increase accessibility and provide outdoor opportunities for
recreation,” said Bryan Bradner, director of DEP’s Office of Operations. “This
year, DEP removed the maximum grant cap on motorized trail applications to
encourage more submissions to provide motorized boating trails and off-highway
trail opportunities around the state.”

For
the 2016 grant cycle, project proposals may address the following recreational
trail needs:

construction
of new trails (with restrictions for new trails on Federal lands);

maintenance,
restoration or renovation of existing trails and trail linkages;

development
and rehabilitation of trailside and trailhead facilities, including boat
launches; and

recreational
trail linkages.

As
part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration,
the Recreational Trails Program contract agreements are for two years and
grants are provided on a 50:50, 60:40 or 80:20 (program/grantee) matching basis.
The department has $1.5 million available for motorized trail projects this
year.

Spring 2016

Regional Trails Prioritized for SUN Trail Funding

At their March 31, 2016, meeting in
Tallahassee, the Florida Greenways and Trails Council recommended
that the 260-mile St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop Trail System be recognized as the
next regional trail system to receive funding from the Shared-Use Nonmotorized Trail
(SUN Trail) program. The SUN Trail program is managed by the Florida Department
of Transportation and allocates $25 million annually to its work program to construct
paved non-motorized trails within the Florida Greenways and Trails Priority
System.

The Florida Greenways and Trails Priority
System (FGTS) was established in 2012 through a public process coordinated by the
Florida Office of Greenways and Trails (OGT). This past year, OGT and the
council worked closely to develop the criteria to help assess the
regional systems within the FGTS. OGT staff presented a detailed analysis of
seven regional projects within the priority system that met the SUN Trail criteria. The Council
members also heard public testimony and presentations by trail representatives.

The St. Johns River-to-Sea Loop includes the
entire Palatka-to-St. Augustine State Trail and follows along the East Coast of
Florida and the St. Johns River corridor. It includes small towns, several
state parks, visitor attractions, ocean views, and rural and wooded landscapes.
Trail users can also access the trail through Amtrak and SunRail. On the south
end, the loop system co-exists with the Coast to Coast Connector, a 250-mile trail system extending from St. Petersburg to Titusville which was
selected as the number one regional priority trail for SUN Trail funding at the
December, 2015, council meeting.

Segments of other trails within the FGTS will also be eligible for funding
as individual trails under the SUN Trail program. FDOT expects to begin programming the regional
trail systems, as well as individual trail segments, this
summer.

Coast to Coast Connector Update Available Online

The Coast to Coast Connector is a 250-mile connection of local trails that will soon cross Central Florida, connecting the Gulf of Mexico to the Atlantic Ocean. The Connector will span nine Florida counties, countless communities, and each trail has a different manager. OGT
has produced the third biennial report about the project and it is viewable online. This report provides a map update to the trail, SUN Trail updates, and provides an overview of the ongoing Urban-Rural Overlay Study being conducted by the Regional Planning Councils in Central Florida.

Merritt's Mill Pond Paddling Trail Designated

Merritt’s Mill
Pond, a dazzling spring-fed water body in Jackson County near Marianna, was
recently approved to move forward by the Florida Greenways and Trails Council as Florida’s
56th state-designated paddling trail.Arising at first magnitude Jackson Blue Spring, this jewel offers a
four-mile long paradise for paddling, boating, photography, cave-diving,
wildlife viewing and fishing. This is an excellent destination for beginning
paddlers and families with children as the clear waters provide plenty of
underwater magic to keep youngsters enthralled. Paddlers in canoes, kayaks and
stand-up paddleboards cruise through the shade of majestic cypress trees that
ring the waters, draped with Spanish moss. Shangri-La Spring, a tiny azure gem,
lures visitors from the nearby Jackson Blue Spring Recreation Area where kayaks
and canoes can be rented (open Memorial Day through Labor Day). Other access
points along the trail are open year-round.

While motor boats are allowed on the pond,
the many underwater stumps limit the speed and number. Merritt's Mill Pond is renowned for excellent
fishing and trophy Redear Sunfish (shellcracker). The pond currently holds the
state record for Redear Sunfish at 4.86 pounds and until recently was the world
record for this fish. Cave divers have also deemed the lake’s springs as exceptional
destinations for exploring underwater caverns and caves.

Accessible Launches Installed at State Parks

Ochlockonee River State Park recently installed a new
kayak/canoe launch adjacent to the boat ramp that is accessible to people of
varying abilities. It is a chute with rollers and handrails that makes it easy
and fun to launch. And you won’t even get your feet wet! “The new kayak launch
is great, especially on a cold day!” said paddler Elizabeth Swiman. “It
provides a safe and dry way to get situated in your boat and also adds a moment
of whimsy as you ride your own little log-flume into the water.” The launch is
designed for easy re-entry from the water, too.